TOKYO, (Reuters) – Alexander Zverev became the first German man to win Olympic singles gold medal yesterday, powering to a 6-3 6-1 victory over the Russian Olympic Committee’s (ROC) Karen Khachanov that he called the greatest of his career.
The world number five, who upset number one Novak Djokovic in a stunning comeback on Friday, put on a near flawless performance against big-hitting Khachanov, who had no answers to the German’s serve and laser-like returns.
“There is nothing better than this,” said Zverev, who matched compatriot Steffi Graf’s 1988 success in the women’s singles, while Boris Becker and Michael Stich won men’s doubles gold for Germany in 1992.
“I think, because you’re not just playing for yourself, you’re playing for everybody involved, everybody in Germany supporting me back at home, supporting all the athletes here.”
“The Olympics is the biggest sporting event in the world,” added Zverev, who came agonisingly close to breaking his Grand Slam duck in 2020 when he lost the U.S. Open final from two sets up against Austria’s Dominic Thiem.
“So, for me, the feelings that I have, and the feelings that I probably will have in these next few days, can’t compare to anything else.”
Zverev broke 25-year-old Khachanov’s serve twice to take the first set, before steam-rollering through the second, winning five games in a row.
Khachanov managed just one game in the final set before sending a forehand into the net on championship point, securing the gold for the German.
Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta claimed the bronze on Saturday after beating Djokovic.
